Isaiah 30:1-11
Isa 30:1
Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take
counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit,
that they may add sin to sin:
Isaiah dealt with general principles of rebellion in
chapter 29 but here he is specifically targeting those who go down to Egypt for
help. Here he begins by relaying
the term “rebellious children” in describing the people of Judah who had a
tendency to turn to their neighbors whenever they were in trouble.
Here in this chapter it has to do with the alliance Hezekiah made with
Egypt in hopes the two of them together could stave off the coming invasion by
Assyria. They were taking counsel
of themselves and instead of looking to the LORD for help in this matter, they
put their trust in Egypt. Instead
of seeking the Lord for a cover or protection against the invasion, they instead
sought an alliance with a country steeped in false religion.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with
unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and
what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath
Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of
the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them;
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)
They were adding sin to sin.
Instead of them seeking the LORD for
help against Assyria, they were seeking the help of fallible and frail flesh to
be their ally. Their sin of
rebellion and apostasy was now being added to by seeking help from the creature
instead of the Creator. Their
confidence was in the arm of flesh instead of the LORD.
Isa 30:2
That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my
mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the
shadow of Egypt!
Judah had sent a delegation to Egypt to form an alliance
with them. The fact that they were
trusting Egypt instead of God showed how deep they had gone into apostasy.
Their desire was to look to Pharaoh as their strength but the next phrase
shows that the strength of Egypt was nothing but a shadow.
They would come as it were under their shadow as if they would be
protected and be able to withstand the invasion by Assyria.
This may have either been Pharaoh Shabaka (716-702 B.C) or Pharaoh
Shebitku (702-690 B.C.) Judah would
have been safer if they were under the shadow of God.
He that dwelleth in the secret
place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm
91:1) Before we condemn Judah,
when we face a problem, who is the first people we go to?
Friends? Family?
Church Family? How many
times when we face hard situations we go to the Lord last?
C’mon be honest!
Isa 30:3
Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame,
and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
Instead of them getting the help from Pharaoh which they
thought would be their crowning achievement if Assyria moved against them, it
would result in their shame which would be their disgrace or humiliation since
together they could not stand against Assyria.
The trust they placed in the shadow of Egypt will be to their confusion
will be to their turmoil and chaos.
Placing their trust in the LORD are never confounded or shamed whether it be in
this world or the one to come.
Isa 30:4
For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to
Hanes.
Zoan also known as Tanis was located in the Delta and
Hanes also known as Tahpanhes was located on the Nile which was about 50 miles
(80 KM) south of Memphis. They were
both key cities in the United Egypt under the 25th dynasty.
So they came into the land of
Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they
even to Tahpanhes. (Jeremiah
43:7) Both delegations were now
in Egypt to ratify an agreement.
Both of these cities had many palaces which were probably owned by
government officials and that is why the representatives of Hezekiah came to the
two cities.
Isa 30:5
They were all ashamed of a people that could not
profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
The people of Judah would be ashamed when they realize
the people they put their trust in would not be able to help them.
The ambassadors and the princes had expected great things from Egypt but
they would only be disappointed and would be of no profit for them.
This realization came in 701 B.C. when the Egyptian army was defeated by
Sennacherib at Eltekeh which was west of Jerusalem.
Eltekeh was located 10 miles (16 KM) northwest of Ekron.
Isa 30:6
The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of
trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper
and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of
young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that
shall not profit them.
Then we have a description of the beasts who would take
all the payment to Egypt for their help.
This would have been a caravan of camels and donkeys who would be taking
the agreed upon payment to Egypt by means of the southern desert which was a
very rough wilderness. The land of
trouble and anguish was Egypt describing the time they had Israel in bondage
which would have been between about 1800-1447 B.C.
It also described the desert area which may have had lions roaming there
but not too many unless there was a source of water and food.
In the Negev, there were many types of venomous snakes and some would
dart from trees making them swift as if they were flying.
The scripture makes it clear again that Egypt will not profit them since
they were defeated by the Assyrians.
It has been speculation that Egypt had made some type of agreement with
Assyria so they would not be destroyed.
Isa 30:7
For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose:
therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
The Egyptians would turn out to be a great disappointment
as they were defeated at Eltekeh by the Assyrians.
This is why God gave Egypt the name “Rahab.”
Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces,
as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.
(Psalm 89:10) The name “Rahab”
means “boastful or arrogance.”
Egypt boasted of their strength but their strength was really weakness and it
would have been better if the ambassadors to Egypt would have stayed home and
were quiet and not made such an alliance.
There is a great principle in scripture which should be heeded by both
countries and individuals.
And the king of Israel answered and said,
Tell him, Let not him that
girdeth on his harness boast
himself as he that putteth it off. (1 Kings 20:11)
Never brag or predict what you will do at the beginning of something as
if you have already done it and it is over.
Egypt bragged and was defeated by Sennacherib.
He could have marched south to Egypt and conquered their land if he
wanted to.
Isa 30:8
Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a
book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
Now Isaiah was to write these prophecies on a tablet so
this way the present generation of people could read it and then it was to be
included in Holy Scripture so people throughout all generations could read it.
It was to become part of the Scriptures included in the Bible which is
the word of God that will remain forever.
Verse 8 begins a new paragraph and not only is it recorded of the
alliance with Egypt but the following verses gives God’s assessment of the
people of Judah.
Isa 30:9
That this is a rebellious people, lying children,
children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
God gives a description of the people of Judah who not
only sinned by apostasy but also by making an alliance with a heathen nation.
First they are described as rebellious children who placed their trust in
the world and who have willfully departed from the true God and went after false
gods. Then they were considered
liars as they lied not only each other but had lied to God in thinking they
could get away with their apostasy.
Then they would not hear the word of God.
This was an intentional turning away from the word and not a
misunderstanding of what they heard.
The more they rejected the word of God, the more apostate they went.
It is like the time we live in the world does not want to hear the true
word of God and even many Christians will hit you with the saying “Don’t quote
scripture to me.”
Isa 30:10
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets,
Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy
deceits:
The seer was the one who made inquiries of God.
(Beforetime in Israel, when a man
went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for
he that is now
called a Prophet was beforetime
called a Seer.) (1 Samuel 9:9)
But now in the time of Isaiah the office of prophet and seer are one.
The apostates of Judah had totally rejected the LORD in that they told
the seers to see not, that is, make no inquiries with God because they were
happy in their worldly alliances.
Then they told the prophets that they did not want to hear right things which
would be those things they needed to hear.
Instead they wanted the prophets to appease them by speaking smooth
things. The word “smooth” carries
with it the meaning of “flattery.”
They wanted to be complimented and had their pride filled egos stroked.
They actually wanted the prophets to speak deceit to them, that is, those
things which would make them feel good and that would puff them up.
We have that very same scenario in the churches today.
Many pastors will not speak truth because they don’t want to offend the
good givers. The media preachers
stroke their audiences by health, wealth, and prosperity and all kinds of
promises of good things. Christians who bring the truth in churches are normally
escorted out the door so they won’t upset the apostate atmosphere.
People are being told that they can “accept” the Lord when in biblical
reality it is he that accepts us because we sinned against the Lord and walked
away from him. Much of modern
Christianity is made up of those who talk smooth things and deceit.
Isa 30:11
Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause
the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.